Friday, November 25, 2011

Dangling Red Cherry Bakelite Jewelry and Mom's Treasure Box

My faux vintage Bakelite inspired Red Cherry Necklace and other faux Bakelite cherry jewelry pieces including a Short Stem Necklace version and various color chain options, earrings, bracelet and Cherry Bar Brooch are available for sale atMelodyODesigns at Etsy

Mom had a jewelry box on her dresser. It wasn't fancy. Given that she grew up during the depression I think it might have been handmade by one of her brothers from simple stained pine wood. However, to me as a young child, that simple treasure box and it's contents were every bit as exciting as playing with the crown jewels might have been for some other child. It opened up a world of interesting shapes, textures and marvelous bright colors. I remember playing with the treasures in her box whenever I could manage to sneak a peek and dreaming of wearing them someday. I'd quietly clamber up on a chair to reach the dresser, open the lid on the jewelry box, and retreat into my own world. Ah, the colors! She liked the color blue a lot, but it was her collection of bright cherry red Bakelite pieces of the 1940's that totally captured my attention and imagination. I remember big chunky red earrings, awesome buttons, a red bangle bracelet, and.........

At the end of my mom's life things were in chaos and I never found out what happened to her jewelry box and the contents. I can only hope that they ended up in the hands of someone who appreciated it as much as I did.

I had forgotten about the jewelry box and my love affair with red Bakelite jewelry until I saw two episodes of "Antiques Roadshow" on PBS. One featured the well-known vintage Cherry Jubilee necklace of bright red dangling Bakelite cherries and the other the classic Cherry Bar Brooch with suspended cherries. They made my heart sing. I desperately wanted to own them, however, they are in scarce supply, usually have extremely damaged stems and sell for a great deal of money ($500-$1,000+).............so...........I made my own reproductions using artist-quality polymer clay with sturdy green stereo wire stems, antique brass wire, and modern PVC chain. People noticed when I wore them and wanted their own, so...........

Nowadays I handcraft and sell reproductions of classic vintage Bakelite cherry jewelry at my shop. The reproductions remain true to the spirit of the originals and I'm proud to say that I discovered an uncredited photograph of my recent work (2009) in a gallery of online photos featuring the "best of the vintage Bakelite jewelry from the the 1940's"!

6 comments:

Your beautiful Red Cherry jewelry is absolutely wonderful! I especially love the one with the green chain and the ladybugs.

Thank you for sharing your story of how your love of Red Cherry Bakelight began! I hope that your mother's wonderful treasure box and all of it's contents is being enjoyed by someone who loved it as much as you did.

I am on my way to check out the other artisan's shops that you've featured here. Thank you for introducing them to us.

Your necklaces are stunning! I remember my own jewelry box, which I inherited from my grandmother when I was six. It was filled with lovely treasures. Unfortunately, my brothers chose to bury it in the sandpile in our side yard as a trick. The next day, the construction crew poured our new garage foundation...

Anita ~ Your story about your mom's jewelry box with all of it's wonderful treasures is so sweet. I can just picture you climbing up on that chair with wide eyed excitement. I sure wish you were able to have that magical box too.Sandy

eeek!i just ordered my brooch. i'm so excited for it. i saw the original on a picture and was obsessed with it until i found out how much they go for.there was no way i could afford an original. soooo glad i found this one. i'm gonna wear the s*'%t out of it! :D